Tianchi Lake on Changbai Mountain, in the southeast of Jilin Province, is the deepest lake in China. Take a shuttle bus and make 72 sharp turns, and you will see the lake on the main peak as well as a garrison of a border defense regiment of the Jilin Provincial Military Area Command.

    The mountain’s highest point, Tianwen Peak, which is 2,691 meters above sea level, offers a panoramic view of the base. Paved with blue bricks, the courtyard is small but tidy. A five-star red flag flies high on a flagpole set on a marble base.

    According to the post’s commanding officer, Zhang Lei, strong winds are a major challenge as the number of gale days exceeds 260 a year. The flagpole, the barracks gate and TV transmitters have all been blown away. One day in 2007, even the barrack’s iron roof was whipped away, and rolled like a pancake in the air. The meteorological department estimated the wind force that day at hurricane force 12.

    Heavy snow covers the Tianchi Lake every October and only thaws in May. In winter, the temperature can drop to minus 52 degrees centigrade. It’s quite normal for the soldiers to patrol in snowstorms. Once when former commanding officer Zou Aimin and trooper Liu Chuanchuan were on duty, a sudden gale blew them toward the mountain peak. In a moment of desperation, Zou grabbed Liu’s hand and both crawled to a nearby shelter. Three hours later, they helped each other back to the base.

    Soldiers set off at dawn and return at dusk. On duty, they can get a hot meal. Stored in insulation barrels, the food smells good and tastes even better. Corporal Qu Leiyu says they no longer have to eat cold steamed bread and drink snow water. Nutritious meals help them to better carry out their duties.